Government funded scheme that compensates victims of violent crime to be reviewed
The Ministry of Justice has announced a review of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme to determine whether the scheme remains fit for purpose.
The government funded scheme exists to recognise the harm experienced by victims of violent crime in Great Britain, including sexual assault and domestic terror attacks, through compensation. A key focus of the review will be to look at how to make it easier for victims to engage with the scheme and to ensure it serves them as effectively as possible.
The review follows a pledge by the Secretary State of Justice in the cross-government Victims Strategy report (Dec 2018) to review the scheme.
Lee Hart, head of our Serious Injury team, welcomes the review:
“The Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme was last reviewed in 2012 and this announcement is overdue. Being a victim of any crime can be a traumatic experience, but where a person suffers a serious physical or mental injury as a result of a violent crime, the impact is often devastating. No amount of money can fully compensate victims for what they have suffered or lost. Compensation is, along with access to emotional and practical support, one way that society can recognise the harm victims have experienced and help them in their recovery.”
“The scheme needs modernisation. It currently takes far too long for applications to be processed and decisions on awards of compensation to be made, all the while leaving victims of violent crime without the support they need and preventing them being able to get on with their lives.”
Full details of the review can be found here.
Feedback on the current scheme is invited from members of the public, victims of violent crime, victims’ group, academics and other professionals. Complete the online survey.
Contact a serious injury solicitor
Our Serious Injury team works with individuals to claim compensation following violent assault. If you would like to discuss your case and how we can help you, please contact a member of our team for a free initial consultation.
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